( Private )

Jonathan has most insistently put his little foot down on the subject of piano. Sorry, Alex, but he won't be having any of it. I thought it would calm him down, but he doesn't like it. He also used a word that I can only presume he learned from Francis because I've certainly never used it. Not in front of him, anyway. Erin is interested, though, and it seems she's the one who got all the sitting still genes in the family. That is, if you've finished flipping out about your last year.

I have seen almost nothing of Teagan, it sounds like he doesn't do anything except train, sleep, and hang around with the girlfriend.

In general, I have to say that... I have nothing else to say, which is something different. Nothing that I can really publicly say, anyway.

( Private )

( Private: Edgar/Caradoc )

Erin turned three without so much as a hitch or cake on our walls, so at least it already has that over last year's birthday. Sorry to anyone who was looking for me on mine, but I was working. It was a long weekend, and not the good kind of long weekend.

( Private )

I have to say, I'd forgotten what it's like to have someone else in the office. And she brings me coffee too, which is unheard of unusual enough in itself. Is this how it really goes in other IMC offices? Please let her be the sort to keep her legs crossed.

Alex and Johanna were finally married last Sunday. Even though the recent McKinnon murders have caught everyone off guard, I think everyone managed to enjoy themselves, even just a little. Muggles were in attendence, what did you expect? As they should, I don't think you can begrudge someone enjoying their own wedding. Welcome to the family officially, Jo.

Erin's birthday is at the beginning of the month, and then she'll be three. Jonathan is already telling anyone who will listen that he's going to be five in January, but then we remind him that January is a very long ways off indeed. He is still content to wait. That means he's practically halfway to Hogwarts, which is dizzying.

Jonathan had his fourth birthday yesterday -- although we're having the cake and ice cream tonight. Family and friends have been invited so now we just have to sit back and let it happen. Hopefully Jonathan won't think it's time to come up with a devious plan to lead the kids in scaling the living room curtains or something. (You laugh now, but it's happened. Anne and I have since reconsidered curtains altogether.)

Work's been busy. I don't know what's going on in the Spanish office but their door has been kept closed all week Or at least we've been keeping busy, which isn't necessarily the same thing.

About nine days ago, there was a pretty devastating earthquake in southern Italy -- about a seven on the Richter scale with ninety or so aftershocks. I'm still trying to find the best venues to help if you are so moved. It was mostly small villages, big cities managed to escape damage, but the ones that were heavily effected were destroyed. And yes, some wizards. My guess that the means will be Muggle in the most roundabout way, however, because I can't imagine Fibionaccis caring.

It's a busy month, lots of people getting married and such. Jonathan will be four in a little over a month.

( Private )

I went to Zurich a couple of weeks ago, for the conference. It was good, you know, three days of people speaking, reviewing situations international and answering questions about your domestic situations... three days and I don't really understand anything better than I did when I left. Granacci spoke as part of a delegation of Italians in exile. I even managed to catch most of what he said; he spoke in Italian. I can see how he managed to captivate il duecento. I'm not sure I managed to command the same sort of attention but I did manage to speak for the UK without falling on my face, arse, or any other part of my body for that matter. Maybe one day I can actually go back and see Zurich.

( Private )

Organisation for Amnesty Amongst Wizarding Peoples is having their biannual conference in Zurich. For some reason the British delegation is going to include me. Seriously, I've been doing this for four months because Ivens suggested it and Amelia urged me to it, my experience is a year as the BYR to the Wizengamot. I AM NOT BLOODY WILLIAM PITT THE YOUNGER. It'll be a good trip, three days, I think a lot can be done.

Not much else has been happening. My birthday was at the end of July, we took a day to get out of London and took a day at the beach. Neither of the children had ever been, and when Erin wasn't eating sand (I swear, Jonthan could lead her right off the edge of a cliff and she'd just be happy to be running after him), we all managed to have a good time for at least that much. Erin turned two as well, and she's absolutely perfect. (And pretty blonde, thank you. She looks like Amelia did when she was younger.)